globe-trotting, music-making, health-seeking, songstress

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It’s the little things…

When you are on the road touring, or even in ‘real’ life, it’s the little things. It really is.

Tour buses are beasts. They are massive. Bunks to sleep 12. Two seated areas front and back. A kitchen, shower and toilet. When at rest the front seated area expands out on the drivers side so you have twice the room, a helpful feature. They have Volvo D13 engines that have increased fuel efficiency and exceed the EPA emmission standards (I’ll take that over flying any day) and their ‘powertrain’ engines get us where we want to go fast.

Our drivers are highly skilled, courteous and good craic, an important aspect of tour life, as to survive in the touring world you have to be able to get on with people. Musicianship or being able to drive or be a sound engineer are not the only qualities.

On this tour we are all of an age and experience to know late nights and noise will not be tollerated for long as sleep is required. Certainly for me losing my voice would really defeat the purpose.

I have not quite yet found out how to write my blog while on the bus. For this I need solitude. Maybe I’m just too chatty and find myself distracted in people’s company. They are good people though, so I am enjoying discovering more about them all.

Now much as the bus is a good home to us, there is one thing I think we would all agree on..one little thing…waking up in a new town and finding you’ve a hotel room for the daytime = GLORIOUS! You gather all your gear, you head to your room and if you are me, you throw it all about the place. You expand! You go to the gym. You bathe. You watch whatever TV channel you fancy. You maybe order room service. You take your time. Until sound check you can, if you wish, sit in silence. You call your loved ones without a whisper. All it takes is a day room for a few hours and life is back to ‘normal’. On the bus their is much laughter but sometimes a little alone time is needed even for those who love to play, sing, dance and make good music together.